Harman Kardon Gets Simple with BDS HTiB Systems

Home theater in a box products often get a raw deal. Harman Kardon is hoping to change all of that, with the announcement of the BDS series.

Both the Harman Kardon BDS 400 (right) and Harman Kardon BDS 800 (below) boast cinema-quality sound inside a nice, compact package. Each one includes a receiver, as well as a Blu-ray/DVD player, an FM tuner, a front-panel USB port, and iPod/iPhone compatibility via the optional Harman Kardon The Bridge IIIP dock.

“With the ever-changing technology in home entertainment today, devices can be too complicated and cumbersome for homes,” said David Slump, president of Harman’s Consumer Division. “The BDS series simplifies the process. An immersive home theater experience is now possible for rooms of any size by just pressing Play.”

Deciding between the two systems may depend on your space and your budget. The main difference here is that the BDS 800 is a true 5.1 surround system, while the BDS 400 offers similar sound via two speakers, the power of make-believe, and Dolby’s Virtual Speaker technology.

Of course, expect to pay more for the full speaker set. The BDS 400 has an MSRP of $999, with the BDS 800 coming in at $1,499. Both receivers can also be purchased without the speakers for $699 and $799, respectively. All products are now shipping.